Kenneth William Parker – Légion d’Honneur

(1926-2018)

47 Royal Marine Commando

In 1942 Ken joined the Royal Marines and following training joined Y Troop, 47 RM Commandos. During the Normandy landings on June 6^th 1944 he arrived at Asnelles on Gold beach. Commandos suffered heavy losses, but Ken fought up the beach to join surviving comrades. They fought their way to, and  liberated Port en Bessin, vital for future PLUTO operations supplying fuels for allied advances. Ken saw further action during the liberation of Fecamp, and later, Walcheren in Holland. Following leave to get married, Ken was posted to Sri Lanka in August 1945 and was finally demobbed a year later.